Breakthrough on railways as employers and unions find common ground

Six days of industrial action on the railways have been suspended after emergency talks yielded breakthroughs in two separate disputes.

More than 1,000 station staff and conductors working for Central Trains were scheduled to strike over the introduction of a 35-hour week, disciplinary issues, the supervisory regime and new technology.

The strikes were supposed to take place between 28 July and 12 August, but were suspended pending the outcome of a further meeting next week between the rail company and the RMT union.

“After extensive talks with Central Trains yesterday our negotiating team concluded that sufficient progress had been made in both disputes to allow them to recommend lifting the threat of strike action,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.